Armando Reverón (1889-1954)

Mr. J.P.J.A.B. Marx, Caracas acquired from the artist circa 1922
Sale: Van Stockum's Veilingen B.V., Gravenhage, Art Auction Kunst-en antiekveiling, April 5, 2012, lot 520, illustrated in color; also illustrated in color on cover

The canvas is unlined and well-stretched. The overall surface appears stable. Under ultra-violet inspection, five small areas of in-painting appear in the lower left quadrant, specifically in the lower left portion of the grass. One small area of in-painting is present in the lower half of the tree trunk located in the lower left quadrant. One small area of in-painting is present above the artist signature in the lower right quadrant. Overall, this work is in excellent condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This “blue period” Armando Reverón Paseo en el Parque, painted in 1922 has recently re-surfaced in Holland. It had remained in the J.P. Marx family home for the past 80 years. Interestingly, there is no mention of it in the rather extensive literature on the artist. Art Historian Juan Ignacio Parra, current President of Proyecto Armando Reverón, recently wrote: “we can confirm now beyond any doubt that the painting is indeed by Armando Reverón and it is possibly a view of Parque los Caobos in Caracas.” Juan Ignacio Parra continued his communication with details on the previous owner, a certain Mr. Marx, a Dutch Banker who briefly managed in Caracas the Hollandsche Bank voor West-Indie (at the time, a bank related to Shell),  Banco Holandés de las Indias Occidentales in the early 1920´s: “ Mr J.P.J.A.B. Marx – the original owner of the painting- knew Reverón and had some sort of agreement with him: indeed, he ordered around that time (early 1920´s) a portrait of his daughters Gwendolyn and Doreen Marx to be painted by him (now catalogued as Portrait of the Marx sisters with Doll) ”.

Paseo en el Parque (Promenade in the Park), 1922 is one of the very few landscapes of the early 1920´s. The neat perspective of the alleys, accentuated by the reddish and blue flower beds and the alignment of the vertical tree trucks over a quasi-monochromatic solid green grass strongly anchors the composition in strong contrast with the upper part of the painting: naturally, as we raise the eyes towards the blue grey skies, the composition becomes more atmospheric and even abstract at times. The artist did not prepare the brown canvas and by doing so, it was used as a complementary color for multiple greens, blues and mauves. Lyrical brushstrokes define the impressionist and at times pointillist character of the painting.  A dimmed crepuscular light in the background illuminates the composition as it sharply silhouettes the enigmatic blue figure with hat in the mid ground and gently brings up the warm color of the line of houses.